On the first page of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s ‘The Little Prince’ the narrator speaks of a snake he had drawn, but that the people he showed it to only saw a hat. He had to explain that indeed it was a snake that had eaten an elephant. During my travels through Asia last month I created this editorial with this story in mind. I wanted to use my surroundings and all the new experiences to create a story that questions what you see and that looks behind the veil.

The first shoot took place in Singapore. I was intrigued by the odd perfection of Singapore’s architecture and especially the HBD buildings, where life seemed so orderly. Such buildings are supposed to create a sense of equality but not individuality. However when you look inside and in front of the residents’ apartments you find little ‘balconies’, beautiful and full of life. The hidden feelings we show when no one is watching.

Saigon was a new experience for me: the city was full of life and contrasts. I felt like I was greeted with new ideas everywhere. This transformational energy originates with a young generation who wants to see the country change and move away from the ‘old’ ways and a history of war. To me it felt like Saigon was moving into the light and out of the shadows of its past, which is the essence of the story I shot there.

I felt like I was moving back in time when I arrived in Hanoi. Clocks were moving slower, people seemed happy with the way things were. The beauty of the past, since the city wasn’t destroyed in the previous wars, was still intact. But there was an uneasiness in the city that I cannot place until today. The images are based on this confusion I felt about Hanoi, the beautiful facades I couldn’t look behind. 

Taipei felt like a city of innovation and perfection, a city with two faces but one character. The teaching of Feng Shui – a philosophy of living in harmony with your surroundings – seemed present at every corner. I had never imagined to find a place with so many facades but so much unity. Having two faces is often seen as a negative quality, but I wanted to show how beautiful and interesting it can be.

Before going back to Europe I made a last stop in Bangkok, a city that is very close to my heart. It was clear for me that this shoot was going to be one of the most difficult because of my relationship with the city. In the end I decided to go back to the beginning and create a story that focuses on love and friendship. Whom we see as our friends, defines who we are ourselves and how we perceive our surroundings, which in turn teaches us what to believe.